Distributed in seven cinemas, why the film “Papamobile” with Kad Merad makes a huge flop?

Carried by Kad Merad, the Comédie Française “Papamobile” is only broadcast in seven cinemas. One of them returned to the flop which is the subject of the feature film.

Some cinema outings were eagerly awaited this month. Among them, we find the horror film “Évanouis”, “Freaky Friday 2” or “Together”.

Others, however, went unnoticed. This is the case with “Papamobile”, a comedy signed Sylvain Estibal.

Photo credit: ISTOCK

Worn by Kad Merad, the feature – shot in 24 days – entered the dark rooms on August 13.

As crazy as it may seem, the film is only screened in seven cinemas: Avignon (Vaucluse), Bagnoles-de-l’Orne (Orne), Saverne (Bas-Rhin), Douvaine and Évoian-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie), as well as Romans-sur-Isère (Drôme).

Since its release, “Papamobile” has made a big flop. Supporting proof: he has brought together only forty spectators within the grounds of the Planet Planet in Romans.

“We thought it could work”

What is the “papamobile” is talking about?

“On the last day of a historic trip to Mexico, the Pope is removed by a drug cartel. The Holy Father discovers the mystical personality of the cartel’s head and the multiple activities of his gang. But soon the formidable criminal discovers that she has removed an impostor… ”, details the official synopsis.

Obviously, the pitch was not enough to attract the crowd. A film tried failed by Jean-Pierre Brès, director of the Roman cinema.

“When we saw a French comedy with Kad Merad, we thought it could work (…) and sometimes we are wrong,” he explains to France Bleu.

He adds:

“A week before the release, we had not seen a trailer and we still have no poster for the film.”

How to explain such a failure?

In an interview with the chained duck, Jean Bréhat, producer of “papamobile”, explains that the final version of the film was ” A comedy not funny, according to most of those who saw it. It happens in the profession ».

With the Parisian, the distributor, The Jokers Films, draws up the same observation.

“The final assembly has proven to be disappointing, not only for us, and not up to the scenario, of the director, of its actors and associated promises,” said Violaine Barbaroux, director general of the company.

Photo credit: The Jokers Films

Faced with this situation, the distributor decided to release the film only in a handful of cinemas, to limit the breakage.

For his part, the director of “Papamobile”, who benefited from a budget of 1.2 million euros, denounces a scuttle. The latter has published a right of reply on his page X, where he defends his film which he describes as ” An absurd journey in our time ».

Note that “Papamobile” will be available on several streaming platforms in 2026.